SURAT: Illegal shrimp ponds on hundreds of hectares of land belonging to the state government in Olpad and Choryasi taluka of Surat district have come under the radar of the Income Tax (I-T)department following complaints of tax evasion by those involved in the aquaculture farming and exports.The I-T department had organised a meeting with more than 100 tax payers connected with the shrimp farming and aquaculture export two days ago. They urged them to maintain account balance and pay the tax regularly to avoid adverse action by the department.Official sources said that the shrimp ponds on 70 hectares of government land at Olpad’s Rajagiri village were demolished and that no one came forward to own their farms last month. Similarly, many such demolitions of illegal shrimp farms have taken place in Olpad and Choryasi taluka on regular basis in the last few months.A senior officer at Olpad prant office said, “Tax evaders target government land for setting up illegal shrimp ponds. There are more than 400 such shrimp ponds located on the government land in Olpad and Choryasi talukas. The shrimp and fish cultivated on such illegal farms are exported directly without maintaining record.”Sources in the I-T department said that the officials have found Rs 120 crore worth of business turnover from the shrimp farming in Olpad and Choryasi taluka. The I-T sleuths are closely monitoring the bank transactions of the shrimp exporters and that the turnover is likely to increase in the coming days.“We have given the ultimatum to the shrimp farmers and exporters to pay tax regularly, or else the department will have to initiative strict action. Most of the shrimp farmers are unaware that the tax liability on illegal shrimp farming is 137%,” said an I-T officer.

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